Cotton-picker.



PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

' B. A. CHEW.

COTTON PIOKER. APPIIIOATION FILED MAY 23,1906.

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.110. 848,967. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

- 3. A. CHEW.

GOT-TON PIOKER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1906,

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\ mlmmm il MEL avwantoz UEITED STATES PAT NT orrioa.

BENJAMIN A. CHEW, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

COTTON- PICKERi Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed May 23 1906. Serial No. 318,341.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. CHEW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State usefulImprovements in Cotton-Pickers and I do hereby declare the followin tobe a full,

means directed by the hand of an attendant and when detached is conveyedto a suitable receptacle, the conveying means usually and preferablyemployed consisting of a flexible pipe, throughwhich the cotton isdrfivnby suction, I and the receiver preferably employed consisting of ahopper mounted on' a wa on Ortruck. A

he invention comprehends certain novel details of construction of thenozzle, including themechanical means for detaching the cotton and itsdriving mechanism, whereby not only may a larger quantity of cotton begathered with less labor on the part of the attendant andin less time,but the quality of the cotton picked is bettered by excludingtherefromleaves, trash, &c., and at the same time each boll is cleanedcompletely of all adherent fiber.

The invention further comprehends certain novel details in theconstruction and an. rangement of the severai mechanisms Wl'llCll.

as a whole constitute the complete apparatus all as will be hereinafterdescribed, .and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fi ure 1 is a side elevation ofa noazle. or m take end of one tentacle of a cotton-picker embodying theresent improvements, a por- Fig. 2 is a vertical section ngitudinally ofthe same; Fi 3 is a detail sectional elevation showing t e air-inletvalve? Fig. 4. is a top plan view ofa complete apparatusem- 5o body-mgthe Ipresent improvements. .Fig. 5

is a sectiona toward the front of the vehicle.

of Georgia, have invented certain new and" tion of the inc oping casingbeing omittedl elevation of the same looking Fig. 6 is 'a bottomplanview of a nozzle or intake end with the casing in section. Figs. 7, 8,and 9 gsaredetail views of the mechanical picking.

devices and one of "the cleaners therefor. Figs. 10 and 1 1 are views ofa modification.

imilar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the employment of a Wagonor other vehicle adapted to be drawn or propelled over the cotton-fieldto be picked,.such vehicle carrying power-generating means andpreferably, also, carrying a receiver or receptacle for the pickedcotton. Suitable flexible ducts or pipes are provided, which at theirinner ends discharge into the cotton-receptacle, while their outer orintake ends are adapted to be directedby the attendants into proximityto' the cotton-bolls and by mechanically operated devices detach thefiber and present the same to the-"duct, through which it is conveyed byair suction to the receiver.-

The vehicle illustrated is an ordinary wagon A, adapted for use withdraft-animals and upon it, preferably near the forward end, is mountedthe power mechanism, which may, as shown, consist of aninternal-combustion engine -B for the prime mover,an electric generator0, and a suction-fan D, the generator andfan being driven from the primemover, as will be readily understood. Obviously the power may be astorage battery instead of an engine, and the generator may be a motor,inasmuch as the particular form of power-generator is not material sofar as the present invention is concerned.

The suction-fan D takes its air. throu h a trunk E, which may extendalong one or othsides of'the body of the wagon, and this trunk isbranched into as many flexible pipes or tentacles F as may be necessaryor desired. The body of the wagon preferably holds a removable foldingreceptacle formed I of folding ribs G and a fabric lining H, so as to bereadily slipped into position or withdrawn when filled. Discharge-spoutsI lead from the trunk into the receptacle, and any of the Well-knownmeans (not shown) for separating the cotton from the air anddischargingthe same into the receptacle may be em loyed.

he flexible pipes or tentacles are made of sufficient length to enablethe attendants to cover a wide section of the field in eachpassageacross the same,'and to relieve the -at- 'tendan'ts as faraspossible of the Weight of the tentacles and to elevate the same abovethe arm K The mechanical picking devices are located at the nozzle orintake end of each tentacle and are preferably driven by a smallelectric motor L, located on the nozzle and supplied with current fromthe generator by feed-wires 1, running along the tentacle. Forcontrolling the motor a switch-arm L is provided, located in position tobe conveniently operated by one of the fingers of the hand of theattendant where the handle M is grasped for presenting the pickingdevices to the bolls of cotton.

The cotton intake or receiving openingef the nozzle has a bell-shaped orflaring wall N projecting laterally from the nozzle, so as to be in mostconvenient position for presentation to the cotton-bolls. Around thebellmouth of the nozzle are grouped a series of pickers in the form ofwheels or disks 0, having picker-teeth (preferably such as will bedescribed specifically hereafter) on their peripheries. These pickersproject in through the Wall of the bell-mouth on all sidesthat is tosay, there are four sets of pickers grouped around the bell-mouth insuch relation that a tuft of cotton presented to the open end of thebell will be en aged on four sides, lifted bodily, and ushe through thebell-mouth into the nozz e-duct.

The cotton is cleared from the pickers by cleaners or clearing-brushesP, Figs. 2 and 7, and immediately above the bell-mouth is a kicker-wheelQ, which in its rotation starts the cotton along the duct and preventsany 010 ging in the cotton-intake opening.

The pickers are preferably arranged in pairs on shafts R, journaled inhearings on the bell-mouth and connected through gearing, such as themiter-wheels 1*,while rotation is secured by intermediate shafts R and Rbetween one of the picker-shafts and motor.

The kicker-wheel may be driven by a worm on the shaft R engaging theteeth of the wheel which may be properly formed for this purpose.

The air-intake is at the end of the duct or nozzle, and a means isprovided to regulate the quantity of air entering the duct, consistingof a valve, preferably consisting of perforated disks S, the movable oneof which is provided with a handle S, projecting through the wall of thenozzle.

W hile the pickers may be simple disks or wheels with teethorprojections thereon, betconnected with the flange by rivets and pushedback 1I1t0h6 duct.

wheels or disksare provided with peripheral flanges 0 and the bifurcatedinner. parts of,

the double prongs or teethio ,are pivotally o Springs 0 serve to holdthe teeth normally projected in position to engage thecotton; I

but it will be noted that the teeth when pro-.

jected are inclined to the radii, and the direc-.

tion of rotation is such thatthe'inc'lination is backward, wherebythe'teeth clear themselves x-npre -etfectually' and at" thesame timeWlll entangle with the cotton suflicientl to insure its bein drawn intothe bell -mout To assist in clearm the teeth, theo enings in the Wall ofthe hel -mou'th.throug which the pickers work preferably conformto thecontour of the pickers, as shown in the draw-- ings.

In operation the" cotton 'engagedby'the pickers. and carried into thebell mouth.

will practically fill the bell-mouth, thereby cutting off the entranceof-air; but the 'aircurrent is not interrupted, for the normal airsupplyis entirely independent of the cottonopening, and, in fact, it isdesired to prevent as faras possible any influence by the air on objectsin p'roximityto the outer end of the bell-mouth, as by avoiding anyinrush of air at this point there is little or no effect on trash orleaves, and conse uently the clean cottonentangled by the pic ers willalone be taken up and pushed into the conveyer-duct. The bell-mouth orflaring shape of the cotton-entrance openingis an important factor,

inasmuch'as such formation not only facili-.

tates the entanglement and picking of the cotton, but it. so distributesthe indraftof air, ifany there be, that-trash and leaves not actu. allywithin the bell-mouth will not be drawn into the conveyer or duct.

- It will be noted that novpart of the pickers projects within. the.conveyer-duct, but, on the contrary, they are entirely to one side ofthe same, with the result that the ductis free and unobstructed save forthe presence of the kicker-wheehwhich assists rather than retards'theprogress of the cotton, -althou gh it will be understood that, if sodesired, the said kicker-wheel may be omitted and the air suction alonerelied on to take the cotton delivered by the pickers away from thecotton- (ntrance opening. I

To give access to the interiorof the, nozzle, it is provided at one sidewith 'a door T, and

the pickers are housed in a casing U, Figs. 4

cl 6, to shield them froni contact with the il ants or'other objects, asWell as to prevent the entanglement of cotton therewith outside of thebell-mouth.

In the modification Figs. 10and 11 the nozzle hasthelaterally-projecting bell-mouth will be entangled by the proj ectionsand sub sequently freed by the brushes, and at. the same time, owing tothe suctionarid arrange:

Basses B S provided on the inner side with a series'of brushes S, whilewithin the belt-mouth is a similarl -shaped rotary liner T, havingopenings t t erein, varran ed in ste 'ped or: spiral t the ends oforder, as shown in ig; 10. the openings t or in proximity to saidopenings are entangling grojections or pins t, whereby asthe liner isrotated the'cotton ment of the openings, the cotton will be moved" intdand through the bell-mouth. .The liner is preferably rotated through acon nection Twith a conical clearer U, journaled in the nozzle, anditself rotated through gearing T from the motor.

'The -conical clearer has spirally-arranged pins u thereon, and a brushV serves to pre I wall of Sitld' bell-mouth, means for mechanicallyoperating said pickers and means for creating an air suction through theconveyer-duct 2. In a cotton-picker, the combination with i the conveyerduct or tentacle having the nozzle end provided witha-laterally-projecting bell mouth forming "the cotton entranceolptening, of the rota pickers projecting in t oug the wall of t ebell-mouth, gearing for rotating said pickers and means for creatmg anair suctionthrough the conveyorduct; substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the conveyer duct ortentacle having a nozzle end and bell-mouth cotton-entrance, of a seriesof rotary ickers projecting through the wall of said bell-mouth inangular relation to each other, means for rotating said pickers andmeans for creating an air-current throu h the duct transversely of theinner end 0 the bellmouth.

4. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having alaterally-projecting bell mouth forming the cotton-entrance, of a seriesof rotary pickers grouped around the bell-mouth at one side of thenozzle and pro jecting through thewallof said bell-mouth in angularrelationto each other and means for simultaneously rotating the pickers;substantially as described.

5. In a cotton-picker the combination with the nozzle having a lateralcotton-entrance opening with'a converging walh of rotary pickersprojecting 'throughfthe converging wall of the entrance-opening onopposite sides thereof in position to entangle cotton in the-largerpartofthe entrance-opening and .force the same through the smallergartinto the nozzle; substantially as describe j 6. In a cotton-picker,the combination withthe nozzlehaving the cotton-entrance open:

ing a :rotary carrier,

mountedthereon an s' rings for holding therein, of a mechanical pickerforv detaching the cotton from the boll, embo y- A icker-teeth pivotal ysaid teeth projected; su stantially as de-- -scribed. v

7. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having thecotton-entrance opening therein of a mechanical picker for detaching thecotton from the boll, embodying a rotary; carrier, rearwardly-inclinedpicker-teeth pivotally mounted thereon and spri s for holding said teethprojected.

'With the nozzle having the bell mouth cot ton-entrance opening, of amechanical icker for detaching the cotton from the b0 embodying a rotarycarrier,' rearward ly-inclined n a cotton-picker thecombination Vpicker-teeth pivotally mounted thereon and projecting through an openingin the wall of the bell-mouth and springs .for holding said teethprojected; substant ally as described. 9. In a cotton-picker, thecombination with the nozzle having the bell-mouth cotton-entranceopening, of a mechanical ickerfor detaching the cotton from the b0embodying a rotary carrier and s ringressed picker teeth pivotallymounte on t e carrier and a clearing-brush against which the teeth aredeflected for detaching adherent fiber; substantially as described.

10. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having thecotton-entrance opening, of'the mechanical 'icker for de taching thecotton from the 011s embodying a rotary carrier, double-prongedickerteeth pivotally mounted on the carrier and springs for holding saidteeth projected; substantially as described.

' 11. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having thelaterally-proj ecting bell-mouth cotton-entrance opening, of themechanical ickers grouped in pairs on o po' site sides 0 saidbell-mouth; substantially as described.

12.. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having thelaterally-proj ecting bell-mouth cotton-entrance opening mechanicalpickers embodying rotary toothed carriers arranged in pairs on oppositesides .of said bell-mputh and rojectin into the same and means for simutaneous y-rotating said pickers; substantially as described.-

of the" 5 13. In a cotton-picker, the combination trance opening andmechanical pickers for advancing the cotton through said cottonentranceopening, of the kicker-Wheel at the inner side ofwand intersectingsaidcotton- 5 entrance opening for advancing the cotton in the nozzle;-substantially as described.

- 14'. In apneumatic cotton-picker, the combination with the tubulartentacle through which the cotton is carried by pneumatic to pressureand a nozzle on the outer end of said tentacle having a lateralcotton-entrance opening, of a kicker-wheel in said nozzle extending in aplane parallel with the axes of the nozzle and lateral cotton-openingsfor, inaugurating the movement of the cott0n I asiand means foradjusting said valve; substantially as describe 16. In a neurnaticcotton-picker the combination with the tubular tentacle through whichthe cotton is carried by pneumatic pressure and a nozzle atttheouter endof said 6 tentacle, having a eotton entrance opening and a separate air'entrance opening,fof mechanical ickers for advancing the cotton throught e cotton-entrance opening and an adjustable valve -for regulating theentrance 3 5 of air through the aireentrance-opening; substantially' asdescribed.

17. In a pneumatic cotton-picker the combination with the. vehicle, thepowerenerator and suction-fan carried thereby, o the 40 Iflexible'tubular tentacle connected with the fan and a pivotedsupporting-arm mounted on and projecting laterally from the vehicle andconnected with the tentacle at a point remote from the vehicle;substantially as de: 5-

scribed.

18. In a pneumatic cotton-picker, the combination with the vehicle; thepowerenerator and suction-fan carried thereby, Q the flexible tubulartentacle connected with the fan and an adjustable su porting-armpivotally supported by the vehicle and connected with the tentacle at apoint remote fro1 r 1 the vehicle; substantially as described? vBENJAMIN A. CHEW.-

I/Vitnesses:

IRVIN ALEXANDER, WILLIAM O. TARvnR.

